What prospect can be more edifying, or more seasonable, than that of liberty and learning, each leaning on the other for their mutual and surest support? - James Madison

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Britblog Roundup #134

Belated greetings, and welcome to the 134th edition of the Britblog Roundup. This week's edition is winging its way to you from the USA, but such is the joy of the internet that it is still the one and only portal you need for all the best blogging from Britain. Without any further ado, let's give you what you've been waiting for:

First up is this announcement from Dan Hardie, keeping everyone updated on the campaign to change Government policy regarding those Iraqis who have worked for the British. Let's see how many MPs turn up on October 9th.

Craig Murray laments the murder of one of his friends from Uzbekistan with some moving and ultimately worrying prose.

With Mark a great talent dies, and one of the last flickering embers of freedomin Uzbekistan.

Leyton.org is concerned with a different kind of freedom, and urges us all to make our voices heard in opposition to the idea of a national DNA database.

Some big news this week has obviously been the developments in the Madeleine McCann case. Pandemian offers a religious take on the story. Tygerland, meanwhile, offers his thoughts regarding the short memory of the tabloid press.

One of the wonders of the blogosphere, of course, is the extra light that it's able to shed on various matters. There are some excellent examples this week. James Graham of the Quaequam Blog has been sitting on a LibDem committee on constitutional reform, and explains the thinking behind their call for a constitutional convention over at OurKingdom. On more local matters, Antonia Bance reports a small success in her work as a councillor.

On a more optimistic note, however, Amused Cynicism tells us about the Flynn Effect, also known as the fact that average IQ scores are always rising. It seems that we might just all be getting smarter.

Osama bin Laden has popped up in the last week, presumably to remind us all that he's still alive. PooterGeek and Chicken Yoghurt both take the opportunity to poke fun at the bearded man's vanity. Just how do you make that much grey hair disappear?

Mr Eugenides fails in his stated aim to hold back his rage. But who can blame him, really, with Ed Ball's proto-Stalinist Ten Year Plan for Children?

Doctor Vee turns to the old chestnut of the idea of privacy in the age of the Internet. But his concern comes from a slightly different angle - should he mention his blog on his CV?

The crux of the matter is this. You and I know that blogging can be a prettyworthwhile activity. But what does the person reading my CV think?

Dr Rant looks at the logical implications of the case made by those frustrating patients who yell at the receptionist that they want to see their GP immediately.

It wouldn't be a proper BritBlog Roundup if we didn't include at least one post from the man who made us what we are today. Tim Worstall has finally worked out what's wrong with him: Beer Deficiency Disorder.

Philobiblon talks to us about the Revenge of Gaia, and the hellish temperature of the earth. On a similar topic, the Early Modern Whale contrasts the melting of the polar ice caps with a 1684 pamphlet regarding pack ice in the Channel.

Jonathan Calder considers the media's impact on the number of children taking school meals.

The Wardman Wire has been running a series of guest postings about Health and Safety regulations. The full list is here; but this is the best of the lot. Be careful: it may contain nuts. And in a special bonus inclusion, you should read Matt's case against the death penalty, too.

Susanne Lamido thinks it is about time that the Liberal Democrats woke up and smelled the coffee.

Chris Dillow wonders why Brown won't call a referendum on the EU treaty if he's so bothered about public consultation? His conclusion can probably be summed up in the words 'control freak'.

The SpyBlog considers the evidence of Chinese government attacks on the UK, or the lack thereof. And the Yorkshire Ranter adds his twopenneth, too.

The post I probably enjoyed most this week was a little bit of nostalgia from the excellent More Than Mind Games, in which he considers the parallels that could be drawn between the men the British public choose to lead them, and the men the FA chooses to manage the England football team.

Cicero's Songs laments the 19th-century rail system in Britain. Not without good reason.

Burning Our Money takes a look at the sums that are being offered by the Tory Party, and gives them a few extra policy options.

Eaten by Missionaries lambasts Mark Oaten, and says that for Lib Dems to engage in talks of coalition is little short of political suicide.

Pickled Politics contains a guest post that makes an impassioned plea for party politics.

Jock Coats looks at the British Crime Survey, and comes up with a surprising idea to reassure the public.